At San Jose, California, in 1973 to operate passenger and cargo commuter flights on local routes from the city. Employing 1 each de Havil-land DH 104 Dove and Cessna 207, the company launches scheduled revenue flights, but cannot maintain them a year.
TRANS AFRICAN AIRWAYS, S. A.: Zaire (1993-1994). TransAfrican is established at Kinshasa in 1993 to provide nonscheduled passenger and cargo flights around the country. Revenue services commence with a single Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I and last a year.
TRANS AIR (1): United States (1972-1986). Initially affiliated with Trans Island Airways, Ltd. of the Bahamas, Trans Island Airways is originally formed by James Dent as a privately held charter operation in 1972. During the years 1973-1978, the small carrier expands its routes to 10 cities in Florida and provides service to Bahamian destinations with a fleet of 9 Cessna 402s.
The company adds an airline division and launches scheduled passenger service in 1979. As in its charter days, Trans Air remains a seasonal airline, flying most of its passengers between December and April to resort areas.
Enplanements at General Manager Lori P. Goldbold’s airline reach 14,000.
Passenger boardings reach 21,000 in 1980. General Manager Gold-bold becomes president in 1981, during which year the company is reformed and renamed. Daily Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach service is initiated as are flights from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Melbourne. Bookings reach 24,000.
Additional Florida markets are served in 1982 and orders are placed for CASA turboprops. In 1983, 23,065 passengers are transported. Traffic skyrockets 197.3% in 1984 as 68,575 passengers are boarded.
In June and July 1985, the carrier’s Cessna 402s inaugurate five-times-per-day service between Orlando and Gainesville/Daytona. Service is dramatically upgraded in August when the airline places the first of four CASA C-212 Aviocars on line, freeing up two Cessna 402s to operate a new service between Sarasota and Orlando. With the arrival of two more CASAs, six-times-per-day roundtrips are initiated on September 9 between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando and from Tampa to Jacksonville.
This growth leads to Trans Air becoming a member of the Piedmont Airlines “Piedmont Commuter” network in October. In an effort to take advantage of the troubles of competing Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA), Trans Air now shifts its service from predominantly island routes to flights within Florida proper.
Passenger boardings increase again, up 124.6% to 157,692.
The Piedmont arrangement is inaugurated on January 16, 1986, but on April 1 it is cancelled by the major, which claims that the small regional is unable to fulfill flight completion and on-time requirements of the contract. Chairman/President Dent is now unable to obtain necessary financing and options on six additional Aviocars must be cancelled.
Affiliation is sought with another airline, but such a deal is not forthcoming. The company stops flying its Florida routes, but continues to operate charters for its parent, Royal American Holidays. In late August, Trans Air files for Chapter XI bankruptcy and is sold to Pennco.
TRANS AIR (2): P. O. Box 29239, Honolulu, Hawaii 96820, United States; Phone (808) 833-5557; Fax (808) 833-2636; Code P6; Year Founded 1994. Trans Air is established at Honolulu in late 1994 to offer third-level scheduled as well as charter passenger services throughout Hawaii. Founder Teimour Riahi is president, with Marjan Azimi as executive vice president; revenue flights commence with 4 Cessna 402A/Bs.
The fleet is increased in 1995 by the addition of another Cessna 402B and one Piper PA-32-300. Orders are placed for three Beech 1900Cs. Airline employment stands at 60 in 1996 and the company’s 6 aircraft transport a total of 6,844 passengers.
Services continue in 1997. Passenger boardings are level, rising only to 6,865.
Flights are maintained during the remainder of the decade.
World History
